Revealed: Where Rory McIlroy was instead of attending BBC SPOTY

Rory McIlroy reportedly flew home to attend a family event instead of making an appearance at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year ceremony. 

According to Telegraph Sport, the four-times major champion jetted home to Florida to be with his wife Erica Stoll and daughter Poppy despite being in the country 48 hours earlier. 

McIlroy attended Manchester United's Premier League match against Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday alongside Ryder Cup teammate Tyrrell Hatton. 

Golf fans were convinced the Ulsterman snubbed the ceremony altogether after he didn't even appear via video link to give an interview despite being nominated for the main award. 

The four-times major champion was the only one of the six nominees not to turn up. 

Absolutely no reason was given for his absence. 

Manchester United and England goalkeeper Mary Earps was crowned the 2023 winner. 

This was not the first time McIlroy had been nominated for the award.

 

 

 

 

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McIlroy was nominated in 2014 after the best year of his career. He won the PGA Championship at Valhalla and also the Open at Royal Liverpool. 

He was also part of Paul McGinley's European team that clinched the 2014 Ryder Cup at Gleneagles. 

But he ended up being overlooked for the award to F1 legend Lewis Hamilton. 

It wasn't the first time a golfer had been 'snubbed' by BBC Sports Personality of The Year. 

England's Matthew Fitzpatrick wasn't even nominated despite winning the 2022 U.S. Open at Brookline. 

Nor was Georgia Hall after she won the Women's Open in 2018. 

To date, Sir Nick Faldo and Dai Rees remain the only golfers to have won the BBC prize. 

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